BRAKES SHOW CLINCAL FINISH
Rugby Town played out a 2-4 defeat in their first full pre-season outing on the Butlin Road turf against newly promoted Conference North side Leamington.
By
RUGBYTOWNFC.COM
Photo:
Martin Pulley |
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Returning forward Justin Marsden goes by his opponent against one of his former teams, Leamington, at Butlin Road. |
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Both sides were without a number of key players with Rugby duo Lewis McBride and Sam Youngs arriving at Butlin Road too late to start the game while Andrew Spencer was unavailable joining Robbie Banks & Sam Belcher on the sidelines.
With ex-Leamington keeper Niall Cooper still struggling with a thigh strain, there was an apperance for young Derby County player Ross Etheridge between the sticks.
There were also starts for two new faces in the shape of former Northampton Town & Corby Town winger Greg Kaziboni and ex-Redditch midfielder Aaron Forde.
Newly-signed former Daventry right back Lewis Bishop, 20, took a place on the bench.
Valley made a very bright start with David Kolodynski headed wide from eight yards and Justin Marsden flashing a shot just over the crossbar from the edge of the area.
Kolodynski went close again with a curling effort before the visitors took the lead - Jamie Towers was on hand to nod in from close range after Stefan Moore's powerful strike had cannoned back off the underside of the bar via a touch from goalkeeper Etheridge.
Rugby were level on the half hour mark when a neat penalty area interchange between Richard Blythe and Seb Lake-Gaskin resulted in the former standing the ball up to the far post for Kolodynski to head home from six yards.
Leamington restored their advantage before half time with defender Liam Daly crashing a long range free-kick over the ball and into the roof of the net.
Left back Craig Kelly found himself in unfamiliar territory just before half time but after dispossessing Leamington defender Matt Dodd in the penalty area and rounding the goalkeeper his shot lacked enough power to evade the covering defenders on the goal-line.
Leamington striker Stefan Moore twice capitalised on hesistant defending from long clearances in the second half to grab a couple of goals - firstly powering a low effort home after Kelly's miscued clearance and secondly slotting into the corner after outpacing the Rugby defensive line.
Mason Rowley's powerful header from a corner was superbly saved by Brakes keeper Tony Breeden and Kolodynski spurned a clear one-on-one chance firing wide as Rugby kept playing decent football.
Valley eventually got their last minute consolation as substitute trialists Sheldon Dodd slid the ball past Breeden after good work by Michael Williams on the right.
Valley
Line-up: Etheridge; Myles, Kelly, Rowley, Gudger; Kaziboni, Mardsen, Blythe, Forde; Lake-Gaskin,
Kolodynski. Subs used: McBride, Youngs, Williams, Palmer, Dodd, Bishop. |
